Patients with insomnia struggle to fall and to stay asleep. Some individuals undergo short-term bouts of insomnia, and others experience it over the longer term. While some people fall asleep during the day due to lack of sleep during the evening, others cannot stay awake because they have conditions like hypothyroidism and narcolepsy.

Sleep problems often arise from matters related to personal lifestyle. These can involve the shifting sleep patterns associated with shift work. Further, disorders like jet lag syndrome and irregular sleep-wake syndrome also contribute to an erratic sleep schedule.

Lastly, certain sleep-related behaviors can give rise to sleep disorders, especially in children. Such behaviors include sleepwalking and conditions that cause patients to act out their dreams.

]]>https://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/types-of-sleep-disorders/feed/0dralbertleeDr. Albert Lee: All About Roseshttps://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/dr-albert-lee-all-about-roses/
https://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/dr-albert-lee-all-about-roses/#respondFri, 06 Sep 2013 04:13:09 +0000http://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/?p=16Continue reading →]]>Lafayette, Indiana, neurologist Dr. Albert Lee enjoys rose gardening in his spare time. Rose gardening is one of the few types of gardening that can become competitive, with breeders competing to win distinctions with new varieties of roses at national and international competitions. Rose gardening can also be as simple as planting a young bush where it will get plenty of sunlight, watering it, and watching it bloom.

There are many classification systems for dividing roses by type, but one of the most widely accepted is the system used by the American Rose Society, in conjunction with the World Federation of Roses. It classifies them across three categories: “species roses,” which predate human efforts at controlled breeding, “old garden roses,” typically the classification for any deliberately created variety older than 1867, and “modern roses,” which are all the varieties made since that year.

Unlike vegetable and herb plants, a rose bush, with its tough, woody branches, can survive for centuries and will continue to spread and grow year by year. The oldest rose bush in the world, at the apse of a cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, is generally believed to be roughly 1,000 years old.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. With obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway becomes blocked, often because the throat tissues collapse. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a neurological condition that occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles that stimulate breathing.

Sleep apnea can often be treated by making simple lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol, or sleeping in a different position. Other options include surgery to correct nasal problems or to remove soft tissues in the throat. Some people are helped by an oral appliance that is custom-made by a dentist to hold the lower jaw in a position that keeps the airway open. One treatment that has brought many patients relief is the use of a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine. This device delivers gentle air pressure through the nose and prevents the throat from collapsing.

]]>https://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/dr-albert-lee-sleep-apnea/feed/0dralbertlee“An Overview of Movement Disorders,” by Dr. Albert Leehttps://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/an-overview-of-movement-disorders-by-dr-albert-lee/
https://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/an-overview-of-movement-disorders-by-dr-albert-lee/#respondThu, 07 Mar 2013 06:11:19 +0000http://dralbertlee.wordpress.com/?p=7Continue reading →]]>Movement disorders are a collection of nervous system conditions that lead to unusual involuntary or voluntary movements or slowed and minimized movements. There are many types of movement order. Some of them are listed below.

Parkinson’s Disease: One of the most well-known movement disorders, Parkinson’s disease affects nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Individuals with the disease may suffer from trembling appendages, jaw, and face; slow movement; and inferior balance and coordination.

Dystonia: This condition leads to involuntary contractions of the muscles, which can be painful and cause twisting and repetitive motions. The disease can affect all muscles, just one muscle, or a group of muscles.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Individuals with RLS experience an intense desire to move their legs. It manifests from a creeping, tingling, or burning sensation.

Huntington’s Disease: An inherited condition, Huntington’s Disease causes nerve cells in the brain to degenerate. Though people are born with this disease, the side effects don’t begin to reveal themselves until mid-age. Symptoms include uncontrolled movements, balance issues, and clumsiness.

About the author: Dr. Albert Lee is a neurologist and the President of Indiana Neurology Specialty Care in LaFayette, Indiana.